Grave lining protection unit



Mach 2, .1943. R. E. GLEAsoN E-rAL GRAVE LINING PROTECTION UNIT Filed Non 15, 1941 Fna.

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 JEFE-ZE STTS ATNT QFFEC 2,312,709 Gaeva LiNlNG PROTECTION UNIT Randolph E. Gleason, Paul H. Coffey, and George Reuter, Roanoke, Va.

9 Claims.

Our invention relates to a grave lining protective unit and more particularly to a unit adapted to be disposed in a grave over the colin and its enclosing case, box or vault to prevent the sinking of the earth ll in the grave when the vault box and coln collapse through decay, ret or thelike.

Asis well known, many cemeteries sell or lease the plots therein under a contract which guarantees that the grave will receive perpetual care. We have found that the decay and collapse of the coiln and more particularly its surrounding box is the major cause of the sinking of graves and is one of the major items of cost to the cemetery under such perpetual care guarantees.

With the foregoing in view, an object of our invention is to provide novel means for supporting the earth ll irrespective of the condition of coiTin and its surrounding box, and which supporting means will be substantially imperishable.

A further object is to provide such a support* ing means which is applicable to the grave after the con and box or vault enclosing the same has been placed in the grave without the use of special tools or any particu-lar skill.

A further object is to provide such a device which is of knockdown construction whereby to facilitate its manufacture, storage, transportation and its application to the grave.

A further object is to provide such a device with widely spaced supporting means or legs and a solid top whereby loose earth may pass around and beneath the solid top to pack around the legs and coin container when the grave is lled and whereby the solid top will prevent further settling or sinking of the earth after the grave has been once filled.

A further object is to provide means to prevent the support or lining itself from sinking into the ground, which means comprise footings for the support thereof and which footings may also include means for facilitating the positioning of the support in the grave.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of our invention as a whole, the structure of the several parts, combination and arrangement of the latter and in the par ticular method of protecting a grave against sinking, all of which will be readily apparent to these skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing and specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof showing the same in position in a grave;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken substantially in the plane of the line 3 3 of Fg.2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken l Vsupports I2 and side supports I 3. The top iI is preferably mader in two pieces and may be secured to the side supports I3 in any suitable manner asA bythe bolts Ie which are imbedded in the upper ends of the side supports i3. The bolts Il-I` extend upwardly from the supports I3 and above the uppermost plane of the top Il. Nuts I5 are thereafter applied to the bolts to clamp the top II in place. Obviously, there is but little need for the bolts and nuts I4, I5 where the floor of the grave is substantially level as the weight of the top I I will suice to hold it in place until the earth lill is applied. Moreover, it will be noted that the corner legs I2 are angular in plan whereby they stand upright by themselves and provide a firm support for the top I I. Also, the support conforms so closely to the shape and size of the grave that the at side supports I3 have no room between the coiiin and grave side wall in which to fall over. This feature is clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the coin container 25 is shown in broken lines.

Where the ground is unduly soft, it is sometimes necessary to provide footings to prevent the support itself from sinking into the ground. In such instances, footings 22 and 23 may be provided for the corner and side supports i2 and I3 respectively. The corner iootings 22 may be provided with an outer upstanding flange 2l to insure the proper positioning of the corner legs I2 thereon. In like manner, the side footings 23 may each be provided with a longitudinal slot 24 to receive the bottom edge of the correspondn ing side leg I3, whereby to maintain the latter upright. In practice, where foot-ings are to be used they are pre-formed in the grave floor by casting or are ready made and applied to the grave floor before the comn container is lowered therein. However, the support I0 is not applied to the grave until after the coffin and its container have been lowered into the grave and just prior to the initial iilling thereof with earth. As is shown, the support has a close fit in the grave and by making the support of knockdown construction its application to the grave is facilitated and the necessity for special tackle and a large crew of men is avoided. Obviously, however, it is possible to make the device in one piece and to lower it into the grave as a unit. By making the device of table-like form much of the loose dirt applied to the grave when it is lled sifts around the top I land packs around 'the legs I2 and I3 as well as the coiln container 25 in the usual manner, whereby to give stability to the legs I2 and I3.

Any suitable material may be used to construct our support; as long as the material is capable of supporting a heavy load and-is substantially imperishable in use. We do not limit ourselves to any particular material. The drawing shows the device formed of reinforced concrete -slabs and angle and we have found that this material is well nigh ideal for our purpose on account of its durability and cheapness. Y

While we have shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, we do not limit ourselves to the precise structure shown and described except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. A device to prevent sunken graves, comprising a plurality of laterally spaced vupriglcitlegs adapted to straddle a coffin container in a grave and to be supported upon the floor of the grave, and a solid top member supported by said legs and adapted to overlie said container.' 1

2. A device to prevent sunken graves. comprising a plurality of individual legs adapted tobe applied in laterally spaced upright positions on a grave :door between the walls of the grave and a con container resting on the grave oor, and a solid top adapted to be supported by gravity upon the upper ends of said legs.

3. The structure of claim 2, there being substantially wide spaces between said legs to permit the packing of earth therearound as said grave is lled.

4. The structure of claim 2, said legs comprising an angular leg for each corner of said grave and a pair of ilat legs for the sides of said grave intermediate said corner legs.

5. The structure of claim 2, said legs comprising an angular leg for each corner of the grave, a pair of flat legs for the sides of the gravev intermediate the corner legs, and means for securing said top to the upper edges of said side legs.

u v6. A table-like device for preventing sunken graves, comprising a plurality of spaced and upright legs adapted to rest upon the floor of a grave, a solid top carried by said legs, and individual footings in the floor of said grave supporting said legs, said footings each including guide means to facilitate the proper positioning of said legs in said grave.

I 7. A device to preventl sunken graves comprising four angle members adapted to be arranged in upright position on the floor of a grave each in a corner of the grave between the coflin container and the side walls of the grave, said members extending above the upper plane of said container, and a substantially solid slab supported upon the upper ends of said members.

8. A table-like device for preventing sunken graves, comprising a pluralityo1 laterally spaced masonry legs adapted to rest upon the floor'of agrave, and a solid masonry top carried by said legs on the upper ends thereof. A

9. The structure claim 8, said top comprising a pair of like sections arranged end to end and adapted to be supported upon said legs by gravity.

RANDOLPH E. GLEASON. PAUL H. CO'FEEY. GEORGE REUTER. 

